Mrs. Grey

by Rachel Wesson

  “Sheriff, you seem a bit off color. Why don't you take a seat and I will ask Annie to bring us out some iced tea?”

  “Thank you kindly, ma’am.” He sat on one of the porch chairs, his gift of the plant on his knee. Instead of Annie, Mrs. Grey came back carrying a tray of cookies and tea. He stood to take the tray, forgot about the plant and it almost fell over, spilling some soil onto the porch.

  “Of all the...” He stopped himself just in time.

  She put the tray down and scooped the plant into her arms. “Is this for me? How beautiful. Thank you.” She sounded so calm and matter-of-fact, he was kicking himself for not giving it to her when he first arrived.

  “You mentioned a while back you liked my roses. I had to wait for the right time to transfer the cuttings and make sure it had settled.” Why was he talking? He needed to be quiet now not muttering like a lovesick fool.

  She busied herself putting the plant in a good position to catch the sun before returning to take a seat and drink her tea.

  “I am so glad you called. With all the newcomers arriving in town, it would be a good time to appoint a mayor. Don’t you agree? So, what...”

  “Excuse me, Mrs. Grey, but I am not here in an official capacity.” Braddon cleared his throat hoping his face wasn’t as red as he felt it was. This was almost worse than going into battle during the war.

  “Oh. Then why…” Mrs. Grey flushed.

  Sheriff Willis stood. “I apologize for the confusion, ma'am. I called by to see if you were willing to accompany me to the opening of the new restaurant in town. I know it is short notice and you may already have other plans but, well I was hoping you ....”

  “Yes, thank you.”

  “You might do me the honor...” He stopped speaking as she put her hand on his arm, causing shivers to move through his body. Her rosewater perfume tickled his nose. If he took a step toward her, he could lean in for a kiss.

  “Sheriff, I already accepted your kind invitation.”

  “Thank you, ma’am. I got to be going now. See you Saturday.”

  He almost ran off the porch. Anyone who saw him would think his pants were on fire. Typical he had to ruin everything. Mrs. Grey deserved a calm gentleman, not a redneck sheriff who couldn’t remember his manners.

  She said yes, didn’t she? Oh Lord, she did. Now he had a week to learn the art of polite conversation. He closed his eyes, remembering how she had felt when he danced with her at Wilma’s wedding a couple of weeks back. He should have asked her to dinner before now but, with one thing and another, it never seemed the right time.

  Chapter 4

  Lorena Grey sat on the porch long after the sheriff had left. When he’d touched her arm, shivers of anticipation had moved along her body. It was the same when he had held her in his arms dancing at Wilma’s wedding. He made her feel young again.

  Both amused and touched by his visit, she wondered what he wanted from her? Over the last couple of years, they had grown closer. When she’d first met him, his large whiskers and tobacco-chewing habit had put her off. But he had shown himself to be a man of principle; especially when it came to saving Little Beaver’s life when the army was going to hang him.

  He had never been married, least she didn’t think he had. Nobody talked about his past, only the fact he had been in the army and been injured at Gettysburg. She knew he was a brave man, not just because of his duties as sheriff. He had appointed Little Beaver as his second-in-command, an appointment that hadn’t gone down too well with certain members of their community. But Sheriff Willis didn’t seem to care what people thought of him. He just did what he had to do, and if the townsfolk didn’t like it, tough luck. She wondered if he liked his job. She’d never really discussed it, or anything else, with him although they had often been on the same sides when it came to matters concerning the town. They had enjoyed a nice lunch together when he bid on her lunch basket at the auction to raise funds for the orphanage. She thought he might ask her to court him then, but he hadn’t. Then he had asked her to dance at Wilma’s wedding and must have known they were the subject of town gossip. Mrs. Shaw and Ma Allen weren’t exactly subtle about their interest, making rather loud comments about how people of a certain age should know better.

  But the wedding had been weeks ago and, although she had seen him around in town, she hadn’t really had any interactions with the sheriff. Yet tonight he had walked from town to see her. That in itself was unusual. Then the plant. She couldn’t remember when a man had last brought her anything.

  “Mrs. Grey, are you going to sit out here all night? You might catch a chill?”

  “I am fine, thank you, Annie. I am enjoying the evening. The sky is beautiful, don’t you think?”

  Annie looked at the sky then back at Mrs. Grey. “I suppose so.”

  On impulse, she said, “Annie, won’t you sit for a while. You have been working hard all day.”

  “Me?” Annie turned to look behind her as if wondering who her mistress was speaking to.

  “Yes, Annie, you. I would like to talk to you about your future.”

  “My future, ma’am. You’re not getting rid of me, are you? I’ve worked hard.” The girl twisted her fingers in her dress looking so distressed, Lorena was sorry she had said anything.

  “Not at all, whatever gave you the idea I was displeased with you. But it’s hardly a life for a young girl like yourself, being stuck out here. I thought you might want to seek employment at the hotel. When it opens I mean…?” She trailed off at the look of horror on the younger woman’s face.

  “Please don’t send me away, Mrs. Grey. I will work harder.”

  “Annie, you can’t work any harder than you do already, and nobody is sending you anywhere. You are welcome to stay with me as long as you want. I thought you might like to be in town to meet some people of your own age.”

  Annie shook her head. She wasn’t even sure the girl knew she was doing it.

  “Annie, sit and have some tea. Forget I ever said anything.”

  “Why do you want me to sit with you?” Annie asked, her eyes distrustful.

  “I’d like the company. Esther, I mean Cook, always goes home to Jim and there is nobody else. Sometimes it is nice to have somebody around. Don’t you agree?”

  Annie didn’t look convinced, but she sat and took the drink Mrs. Grey offered. They sat in silence for a while.

  “Where did you live before, Annie? Before you arrived at the orphanage?”

  “Denver, Mrs. Grey.”

  “Did you like it there?”

  The conversation wasn’t proving easy. She felt like she was interrogating the poor child not putting her at ease. But she wanted to get to know her. To try to help her.

  “Did you know, Zack, Wilma’s husband has brought some people down from Denver to work in Clover Springs. Mr. Prentice, he’s a rich New York gentleman, has invested in Clover Springs. He’s helped build some new stores and he’s invested in the hotel and library planned for the town. I should visit the camp to check if they have any medical needs, would you like to accompany me?”

  There was a small chance Annie would know any of the people Zack had brought with him, but it might be nice for the girl to be around her own kind.

  “No, ma’am. People weren’t very nice. They called me some horrible names.”

  She tried to sound surprised but, in reality, she knew both black and white communities could be cruel to the children of mixed marriages.

  “Because you are an orphan?”

  “No, ma’am. I wasn’t an orphan back then. I had a ma, but my pa left. I never met him. I think he got tired of being called names too.”

  She wished Annie’s parents had thought of the impact their relationship might have on their children but that had nothing to do with Annie. She decided to change the subject.

  “What do you do in the evening time, Annie. When you are not working?”

  “I sew sometimes, ma’am. I like to work with my hands.”

&nbs
p; “Do you ever read?” she asked, thinking of her library filled with books.

  Annie lowered her face almost to her chest, “I can’t read.”

  “I guess we need to change that. Would you like to learn?”

  Annie’s face lit up from inside turning her from a pretty girl into a beautiful one. In a nice dress, the girl would be stunning. She decided it was time to treat her to some new clothes. She would go into Clover Springs in the morning and ask Lizzie to make Annie a new dress. It wouldn’t make up to her for the treatment she had received but it may make her feel good.

  “Oh, yes, ma’am but…some people said I was too stupid to learn.”

  “I don’t believe that. I used to teach people to read long ago. I miss it. I would love to help you if you would like to learn. But I don’t want you saying yes thinking you have to please me. Your time off is yours to do with what you want.”

  “No, ma’am I would like that. I like to clean the books in your library. They smell good.”

  She smiled at the eagerness in the younger girl’s face. Maybe Annie would help her too. It had been too long since she felt useful. She rarely helped at the orphanage now and even her time in the doctor’s clinic was less than it had been.

  She missed Wilma. Not that her friend had moved, but she had Zack now and the twins as well as her duties at the orphanage. Glancing at Annie, she saw the girl was uncomfortable.

  “Thank you, Annie, for sitting with me. I think I shall retire now. I will see you in the morning.”

  “Yes, ma’am. Goodnight.”

  She walked to her bedroom and closed the door. Why did she feel so lonely now? She had been alone for a long time.

  Chapter 5

  “Morning, Mrs. Grey.” Lizzie Carpenter greeted her with a big smile as she walked into the Irish woman’s dress shop.

  Lorena looked around her marveling at what the New Yorker had achieved. Someone had turned the area around the window into a cushioned window seat with two chairs in front of it. She guessed that is where Lizzie consulted with the ladies who came in to request new outfits. The plain, white walls highlighted the various colored dresses hanging on different hangers. A couple of hats were displayed in a fine wooden cabinet.

  “Sadie made the hats, seems she was hiding her skills when we worked in New York,” Lizzie teased her friend gently. Sadie blushed.

  “Paul made the wooden models for me. He thought it was a good way to showcase my work,” Lizzie elaborated as she looked around the store.

  “Lizzie, you are so very talented and your fiancé too by the look of his work. This is wonderful.” A beautiful rose-colored gown took center stage. Lizzie fingered the fabric delicately, saying “Isn’t it? It’s a copy of a gown Alicia bought for Nora when we were in New York. I wasn’t sure if Clover Springs was ready for the latest fashions, but I was wrong.” Lizzie looked uncomfortable. “What I mean is, I wasn’t sure the women would want to spend money on new dresses when most are used to making their own clothes.”

  “You don’t have to clarify, Lizzie. I know you weren’t insulting Clover Springs but, compared to New York, we are rather behind the times. Despite that, most ladies like to look their best. I am sure you will have plenty of business.”

  “I agree, Mrs. Grey. We already have some orders for shirtwaists and skirts. A couple for dresses. I don’t know how she does it. Lizzie is making our wedding dresses too.” Sadie moved slowly as she came out from the back of the store, a length of material in her hands. Doc Erin had told Lorena how worried she’d been over the injuries the girl had sustained in the blizzard. Sadie had come very close to having her leg amputated, but Doc Erin’s nursing and Sadie’s willpower had saved it. Sadie was marrying Lizzie’s brother, Tommy, who had set up a sheep ranch near to Davy Sullivan’s place. The locals hadn’t all taken to the idea of sheep rearing but Davy and Aaron had stood by the newcomers and that made life a little easier.

  “I would be insulted if I didn’t make your dress, Sadie. You are the sister I have always wanted,” Lizzie confirmed, before turning her attention back to her. “What can I do for you, Mrs. Grey?”

  “I wondered if you could make me a dress,” she asked.

  Lizzie beamed. “Of course, I can. Why don’t you sit and tell me what you would like? I can draw up some sketches for you. Sadie could make you a tea or coffee?”

  “It’s not for me. It’s a present for a younger girl. That’s where the difficulty comes in. I would like to give her a surprise.”

  “Do we know the young lady?” Sadie asked, “Lizzie will need her measurements.”

  “Her name is Annie, she’s my maid. She rarely comes into town.”

  “I don’t think we have met her, have we, Lizzie?” Sadie asked.

  “I can’t remember meeting an Annie. Do you have any ideas of what you would like for her?”

  “She is a very beautiful, modest, young lady. I think she is a similar size to Sadie although slightly taller. I thought if you could make her a dress then she could come back for alterations when you have it pinned together. Would that work for you?”

  “Of course,” Lizzie said, smiling. “Will Annie come to the shop?”

  She shook her head. “Annie doesn’t like strangers. Would it be asking too much for you to come to my house to fit the dress?” She was conscious she was asking a lot; the girls were busy and just getting started in their new venture. “I will pay you for your trouble.”

  “You won’t pay extra for that. I aim to give the best service possible and that is reflected in our prices. Rather than make up a dress in the fabric, could I offer a suggestion?” Lizzie asked.

  “Of course. I am not quite the dragon people make me out to be.” She saw by the looks on their faces, they weren’t convinced.

  “We haven’t met Annie so don’t know what fit and colors would flatter her. So why don’t I come and see her with a selection of materials and together you can choose what suits best?”

  “That’s a wonderful idea. Annie could do with some friends and she is a similar age to you ladies.”

  They arranged for Lizzie to call the next afternoon. Sadie would look after the store.

  Chapter 6

  Mrs. Grey pushed open the store door taking a moment to inhale the mixture of fragrances assailing her senses. Thankfully, the store was cool, a welcome retreat from the hot August air.

  “Katie, do you think it could get any hotter?”

  “Would you like some iced tea? I just made it,” Katie answered her with a smile. “I have a post for you too. Daniel was going to deliver it later.”

  “A glass of tea would be lovely, thank you,” she replied, taking the letter from Katie. Turning it over, she stared at it in shock. The room tilted.

  Katie immediately rushed to her side. “Are you alright, Mrs. Grey, you don’t look at all well.”

  “I am fine, Katie, just need to catch my breath. I got a bit of a shock.”

  Katie walked over to the store door, turned the sign around to closed, and pulled down the blind.

  “What are you doing? People may need something.”

  “They can wait, Mrs. Grey,” Katie said, her tone telling her it was pointless to argue.

  “Sit here and I will pour you a cup of proper tea. It will warm you up. Mam told us there was nothing better for a shock.”

  Mrs. Grey smiled slightly. “I am not sure I will ever agree with the Irish feeling a cup of tea is the cure for everything. Right now, though, I am willing to try.”

  Mrs. Grey soon held a cup of tea in her shaking hands. She still hadn’t opened the letter.

  “Mrs. Grey, is there anything I can do to help?” Katie asked, eyeing the letter.

  “No, Katie, but thank you. The letter is from my sister or at least her home. I haven’t heard from her in over twenty years.”

  “Why don’t you open your letter? It might not be bad news and if it is, I am here to help.”

  She took the younger girl’s hand in hers. “Thank you, dear
Katie.”

  “You saved my baby, Mrs. Grey. Least I can do is hold your hand at a time like this. Now open it.”

  She smiled at the bossy tone knowing the girl had her best interests at heart. Hands shaking, she opened the post and scanned the letter. The note fluttered to the floor, causing Katie to pick it up and lay it on the counter, face down.

  “Is it bad news?”

  “My niece is coming to stay.”

  “I think it’s wonderful. I would love to catch up with Liam and the rest of our family.” Katie replied, her tone suggesting she didn’t understand why this would be bad news.

  Mrs. Grey laughed but it wasn’t a funny sound. “Family isn’t everything it’s cracked up to be. The last time I spoke to my sister she stood by as our father threw me out of our family home. Our mother packed my bag. I cannot understand why this young lady wants anything to do with me.”

  Katie bent to take the cup of tea out her hands. She hadn’t realized the contents were dripping over her skirts.

  “Maybe she wants to make up? Families fall out all the time,” Katie said gently.

  “Make up, Katie? After twenty years of silence, she sends a letter to say she will be here on the twentieth. That is not only ill-mannered but typical of my sister’s behavior. I’ll send her a telegram and tell her not to come.” She stood and went to open the door. Katie didn’t need to lose customers because of her family issues. Once the blind was open and the sign turned the right way, she turned toward her young friend.

  “Thank you for helping me, Katie.”

  “Why turn her away? You say it’s been twenty years since you last saw your family. Was your niece even born then? Surely, you cannot blame her for the way your mother and sister behaved,” Katie protested.